For the first time, this book tells the whole story of a basement business that was built into a global pharmaceutical company. It all began in 1922, when insulin came to Denmark and inspired the es-tablishment of two companies, Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium and Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium. After many years of fierce rivalry, the two companies merged in 1989 in order to be able to survive in global competition. Soon after, years of merger negotiations brought Novo Nordisk to the brink of moving out of Denmark.

The story of Novo Nordisk is a story of groundbreaking research and big bets but also of setbacks and crises. A story of strong leaders and personalities but also of family struggles and company infighting. The book is based on full and unhindered access to the company’s archives.